NCR3

NCR3 or Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NCR3 gene. It is also known as NKp30, a name derived from its identification as a 30kDa natural killer cell protein.

Function

NCR3 is a natural killer cell receptor. Natural killer cells are a type of white blood cell that play a major role in the host-rejection of both tumors and virally infected cells. NCR3 is one of the natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs), which are crucial for the killing function of natural killer cells.

Structure

The NCR3 protein is a type I transmembrane protein, meaning it spans the cell membrane once. It has a single immunoglobulin domain in its extracellular region, which is responsible for recognizing and binding to its ligands.

Clinical significance

Alterations in the function of NCR3 have been associated with a variety of diseases. For example, reduced expression of NCR3 has been observed in cancer patients, and this is thought to contribute to the immune evasion of cancer cells. In addition, mutations in the NCR3 gene have been linked to a higher susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.

Research

Research into NCR3 is ongoing, with studies focusing on its role in immune response, its potential as a therapeutic target in cancer treatment, and its involvement in autoimmune diseases.

See also

• Natural killer cell
• Immunoglobulin domain
• Cancer
• Autoimmune diseases